MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIENDS, TODAY DEC. 25, 2014, INTO THE WOODS IS WHAT OUR SAVIOR HAS BEEN REDUCED TO!

On AMC you get Christmas with the Duke, or John Wayne. On TNT you get a 24-hour-long Christmas Story marathon. On the Word channel, you get 24 hours of let’s make them feel good Christmas movies.

At the theaters you have nine movies coming out today, which none of them has anything to do with Christ and His birth, but where I need you to focus on today is the one titled “into the woods” which is about a witch that practices magic or sorcery to entertain those who are willing to be entertained with such foolishness.

And that my friends is about as far away from the birth of our Savior that we could possible get. But Satan, and Hollywood will bring in millions during the holidays, when our minds should be focused on the Birth of Christ.

And the fact that, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 (NKJV) But once again the world is being turned into a nation of zombies who are manipulated by corporate advertisers.

And once again Sin and Satan’s desire that we all lose sight of Christ Birth, death and saving grace, while forgetting that life is too short to squander away in front of “In the woods.” Or anything else that does not point us to Christ and his soon return.

My friends, If you are a child of God, where is the outrage, why is there no marches, protest or laying down in front of traffic in the streets against a world that has placed our Savior on the auction block of our corporate world and sold him for commercial gain.

Why have we not come out and said  we cannot breathe because cooperate america has taken Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, a Balm in Gilead that heals our sin sick soul, the Creator of the Universe, the all Knowing, all powerful, Omnipresence being, and reduced Him to “In the woods”

And as Christians, why are we not telling the world, that Jesus saves and that He will return soon to take his faithful away from a world that has allowed their spiritual compass that should be pointing them to Calvary and life eternal, into the opposite direction that will only lead them to death and perdition.

My friends we must not forget “It is Satan’s work to talk of that which concerns himself, and he is delighted to have human beings talk of his power, and of his workings through the children of men…..But let us decide that this shall not be.

If we look constantly to Jesus and become daily learners of him, we shall become like him in character, (E. G. White RH May 7, 1908) as we let the world know that Satan is the father of all lies, who has reduced our Savior to a “witch that takes a childless baker and his wife with procuring magical items from classic fairy tales to reverse the curse put on their family tree.”

Which I am pretty sure The movie does not end by telling the truth, that Satan is the curse that has been put on all family trees by himself who said in his heart, “I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;

I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.” Is. 14:13-14 (NKJV) My friends day and night the heavenly host “do not cease to say,

“holy, holy, holy is the lord God, the almighty, who was and who is and who is to come, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever Amen.”

And that My friends, is the place and the presence of the one we all who are faithful and endure to the end must seek daily as we enter into another year with more challenges, trials and many more mountains to climb. But keep your eyes focused upward “From where our help comes from, who is the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

Dec 24, 2014

MY FRIENDS, TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE, SO COUNT THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP, AND RESPOND!!

“Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Then He said to another, “Follow Me. But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”

Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.” And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.” But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:57-62 (NKJV)

The above text, a disciple tells Christ “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go,” before counting the cost of discipleship. So Christ tells him and also each of His chosen vessels in the 21^st century who seeks his presence and kingdom.

We must lay aside every thought of worldly possessions. In addition, “the Son of Man [who is our example] had nowhere to lay His head.” Even though the “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests” So we must ask ourselves, How much are we willing to give up for discipleship.

In Matt.16:24 (NIV) Christ tells us “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” Christ then ask another disciple to count the cost of discipleship and follow Him, then the disciple asked if he could be excused for a few days to go bury not just a love one, but the man who gave him life his father.

“Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.” is Christ response. But the scriptures teaches us “The eye that mocks a father and scorns to obey a mother will be picked out by the ravens of the valley and eaten by the vultures.” Prov. 30:17 (ESV)

So you have a mother telling her son come home bury your father and Christ saying “let the dead bury their own dead” My friends if we are God’s chosen vessel who seeks his kingdom, there can be no other option or excuse for neglecting discipleship and following Christ.

Another disciple is willing to follow Christ, but he needs time to socialize with his friends and family, and set his household affairs in order, but Christ tells him “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

My friends there are those who “have a form of godliness but denies its power.” Who continues to look back, before they made their life changing commitment for discipleship, looking at the way things were and all they have or had at one time.

But we must remember “wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who [will] go in by it.” Friends if we seek God’s kingdom, we must continue until we have completely crossed the threshold into the promise land and our savior tells us personally, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.

Come and share your master’s happiness!’ Matt. 25:23 (NIV) Luke 14:26 also tells us “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters–yes, even their own life–such a person cannot be my disciple.”

First of all we know hatred would “be contrary to the laws of God,” “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” 1 John 4:7-8 (NKJV)

But in life there are choices and options we make but only one choice that leads to God’s kingdom and life eternal and that is giving it all to the Master. So my friends today count the cost of discipleship and respond, time is of the essence!!

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

Dec. 20, 2014

MY FRIENDS, ON OUR JOURNEY TO THE PROMISE LAND, WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO REST?

I started yesterday on a eight hour journey, and I have to say I have been driving close to fifty years and it was the first time that I can remember, having to place all of my focus and energy on keeping awake rather then on how I was driving and I must say it is a very difficult process but sometimes it is necessary, but not wise.

“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.”

It is amazing, they all went to sleep, but Christ only labeled five of them foolish. For me yesterday, it would not have been wise for me to sleep at least not while I was driving so the question we must ask ourselves as we move closer to Christ soon return when is the appropriate time to rest,  Nelson Mandela tells us “I have walked that long road to freedom.

I have tried not to falter; I have made missteps along the way. But I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb. I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come.

But I can rest only for a moment, for with freedom comes responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not yet ended.” I love that quote because it tells us that we can rest at times. And yesterday I did manage to pull over at times to rest, but it was only for a moment because I realized it could only be for a moment for the journey had not ended there were many more miles to Go.

My friends we have a responsibility a mandate set before us by God and each hill we cross over on this journey we are on, as a child of God we must realize there are many more hills to go until we can hear Christ Himself say “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!”

Our journey will not be complete My friends until Christ says it is complete. in addition, there is a freedom that comes with being a chosen vessel for God, and with that freedom, as time and prophecy continues to move faster than ever, the world seeks hope, and the freedom of knowing Christ as our personal Savior,  our responsibility is to point the world towards the source of all of their hope, righteousness and life eternal.

Soon the “midnight cry [will be heard]: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps…..” but only five were prepared to meet the bridegroom, only five even though rested for a while were anointed with the power of God’s Spirit. “And when the bridegroom came, were able to go in with all the redeemed  who endured and stayed focused as they awaited the arrival of the groom;

“And the door was shut…and “afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!” And my friends, the saddest words that will ever be repeated, will be the words Christ will say to those who never allowed the transforming power of His Spirit to change their lives. “But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.” Therefore my friends “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” Matt 25:1-13 (NJJV)  And never forget, our rest must only come in the loving arms of our savior as we await the bridegrooms arrival.

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

DEC. 18, 2014

MY FRIENDS, HAVE YOU ALLOWED YOUR SPIRITUAL IMMUNE SYSTEM TO BE COMPROMISED?

To function properly, our immune system must detect a wide variety of outside agents that distinguish them from our organism’s own healthy tissue.

As we move closer and closer to Christ soon return, our spiritual immune system is compromised more and more by the things of this world as we allow a wide variety of outside agents to enter our lives. But my friends essential to our Salvation, we must die daily.

In addition we “have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” Gal. 2:20 (NKJV)

As Humans what we digest daily in our Mind, and Body becomes a part of us, so if we digest a lie daily we become consumed by that lie and our immune system is compromised and it becomes the central part of who we are and what we do.

Remember my friends to function properly with the saving power of Christ, our spiritual immune system must be able to detect all abnormal condition that Satan attempts to spread in our lives. Most of the time they are in the form of mental images which becomes the blueprint, of how we live our lives from day to day.

In today’s society it is usually in the form of  the TV and  internet. Between our work schedules, families and church, our minds are already in overload. And then Satan brings one more element into the picture, which he calls a relaxing evening doing nothing, at least nothing spiritually.

As pilgrims on our journey to the promise land, we must allow the Master to have full control through His Word and Spirit and once we allow this to happen, we will never be “given over to strong delusions, believing a lie.”

Remember “wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matt 7:13-14 (NKJV) My friend, life seemed not so complicated before we allowed Christ to enter our life.

A time when the flesh ran rampant with no limits, or boundaries. Life and what we did from day to day was never problematic when we were on that train bound for perdition. And then one day, we had a Damascus Road Experience. A radical change took place.

We became a Child of God, a new creature. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) But like cancer that goes into remission or is in a stage of “Dormancy, where they survive in a quiescent state while waiting for appropriate environmental conditions to begin proliferation again.”

Also, Satan waits He knows what we like, what suits our fancy and what it will take for us to  migrate back to our old ways. For we all recognize that the law is holy and good but we are carnal from within, bound under the sin of the flesh, only satisfied when it is controlled by the forces of evil.

So as A Christian the battle rages daily so the flesh must die along with self daily. My friends we must be honest with ourselves today, as Paul was in his time. Our members will always weaken by outside factors if we allow them too.

In the 21 century it’s what we watch, what we read, what we listen too, and who we allow into our lives. Paul’s discovery as should be ours is that every time we try to do good, evil is always present! No matter what we want to do for the Lord, especially in spreading the good news of the gospel.

Friends again, the curtain has been pulled back, prophecy is being fulfilled before our eyes, as time moves faster than ever before in the direction of our Saviors second coming. In addition, finishing the course is a must if we seek heaven as our new home. So today stay focus, and endure while never allowing our spiritual immune system to be compromised?

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

Dec. 16, 2014

MY FRIENDS, THERE IS HOPE IN PROPHECY IF YOU BELIEVE?

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, ….And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” Rev 21:1-4 (NASB)

My friends, our hope lies in prophecy “and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain;”

In addition, God “changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.” Daniel 2:21 (NIV) remaining in Daniel 2, the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar has a dream, and only Daniel can interpret it.

In this Dream God gives His pilgrims a road-map of history and prophecy, from beginning generations, to his kingdom starting with Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, and then in Daniel 2:44 (NASB) it tells us “In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed.

In addition, that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever.” My friends this is why prophecy is so important, as we search the scriptures for answers.

Prophecy gives us hope, history and prophecy in God’s word are mirror images until we get to the ending of the story and God’s word tells us His kingdom will endure forever where as history has a different ending.

The road to the future leads us smack into the wall. We simply ricochet off the alternatives that destiny offers. Our survival is no more than a question of 25 50 or perhaps 100 years.” (Jacques Cousteau) history gives no hope but my friends our hope lies in our faith to believe in God’s word and prophecy.

In addition, the end of the story continues, it never ends it “endures forever” throughout the senseless ages of eternity. But like the three Hebrew Boys, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who knew where their hope came from, when asked to bow down to a golden image but refuse, we must also seek that same hope.

The king then tells them you will immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire; and what god is there who can deliver you out of my hands?” my friends when trials come into our life and there seems to be no hope, seek hope in the fulfillment of God’s prophecy in God’s word, it has never been wrong, because we serve an Omniscience: all knowing God.

“O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods” Daniel 3:16-16 (NKJV)

But if not, they knew prophecy and my friends if you continue to read Daniel 3, you will see the Son of God came from His throne above and walk with them, in the midst of that fiery furnace. And He will also walk with each of us in every situation and circumstances of our life on our way to that land that will endure forever.

My friends I hear the sound of a mighty rushing wind and it’s closer now than it’s ever been. I can almost hear the trumpet as Gabriel sounds the call at the midnight cry we’ll be going home. My friends Don’t allow the god of this world to keep you from, that land that will endure forever and when you get there I want to introduce you to all of my love one’s, and I will be happy to meet yours.

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY

Dec. 15, 2014

MY FRIENDS, “THEREFORE BE YE ALSO READY: FOR IN SUCH AN HOUR AS YE THINK NOT THE SON OF MAN COMETH”

As a teenager living in my parents’ house, they went out of town to Alabama. for 10 days, to what our Church calls Camp meeting, a little over 100 miles from our home. So I decided to have the party of parties and it went on for days and in every part of the house, including my parents bedroom.

Never thought about cleaning up, I still have a few days, plenty of time. Well my father came back in town early, why, I can only guess, But I figure like Moses when he went up into Mount Sinai to talk to God. And the Israelite s threw their big party and God told Moses.

Go down at once, for your people, whom you brought up from the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. Ex. 32:7 (NASV) So I will let you all figure out the ending too that, of many, not so good episodes in my life.

In Matt. 24:44 (KJV) Christ tells us, “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” But as Pilgrims passing through on this journey to the promise land we should always be ready, always prepared minus the burden of the material things of this world that would hinder our movements.

Luke 21:25-26 (NASV) tells us “There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.”

My friends, Prophecy is being fulfilled, time is moving rapidly “Therefore be ye also ready” There are signs in the religious world “See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many.” Matt. 24:4-5(NASV)

Jim Jones, David Koresh, Hare Krishna. Marshall Applewhite of Heaven’s Gate to name a few “Therefore be ye also ready.” Signs in the political and ecological world “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.

But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. Matt 4:7-8 (NASV)“Therefore be ye also ready” signs in the economic classes “It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure!

Behold, the pay of the laborers who mowed your fields, and which has been withheld by you, cries out against you; and the outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.” James 5:3-4 (NASV) “Therefore be ye also ready”

My friends The theme of the Bible is Jesus and how He died to save men The plan of salvation assures us He’s coming back again Are you ready for Jesus to come? Are you faithful in all that you do? Have you fought a good fight? Have you stood for the right? Have others seen Jesus in you?

Are you ready to stand in your place? Are you ready to look in His face? Can you look up and say, “This is My Lord!” Are you ready for Jesus to come? Don’t cling to the world and its treasure This earth will soon pass away Oh, give Him your love without measure, He’s calling you today!

I love the part of that song that says, The theme of the Bible is Jesus and how He died to save men, Yes God’s word is our road-map on this journey, it “is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Heb.4:12 (NIV)

But, the god of this world keeps our minds fixated and manipulated by the 20 billion dollar entertainment industry. So now our god becomes the government and corporate advertisers. And once that happens, we then lose sight of Christ saving grace and His second coming.

So remember as in the days on Noah “God’s Spirit shall not always strive with man” “So Therefore be ye also ready for in such an hour as ye think not the son of man will come.”

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY